How crucial are seniors to BSU basketball? They’re key to rebounding after losses

It’s times like these when Boise State basketball coach Leon Rice is thankful he has two seniors on his young roster.

Fresh off a 78-73 loss at New Mexico on Tuesday, the Broncos (16-8, 9-4) find themselves a half-game out of first place in the Mountain West standings. Their matchup in Albuquerque, N.M., was a roller coaster: down 17 points in the second half, rally to within three with 19 seconds left.

“Every flight we have, we try to become better,” Thunderbirds pilot says.

Week 7 Treasure Valley top high school football plays

Cougar's reflection caught on camera as it peers into windows of Washington school

Boise State's seniors are "huge" to Broncos' bouncebacks

Boise State men's basketball coach Leon Rice believes seniors Nick Duncan and James Reid have been pivotal in his team's ability to come back after losses. Having lost to New Mexico on Tuesday, the Broncos will need to rebound against Wyoming on Saturday at Taco Bell Arena.

Boise State men's basketball coach Leon Rice believes seniors Nick Duncan and James Reid have been pivotal in his team's ability to come back after losses. Having lost to New Mexico on Tuesday, the Broncos will need to rebound against Wyoming on Saturday at Taco Bell Arena.

mkatz@idahostatesman.com

Boise State also rallied from huge deficits in back-to-back games at Fresno State (27 points to eight) and in its first game against New Mexico (20 to two).

Those January games are the only time since Nov. 18 that Boise State has lost consecutive games this season. A big reason for that is the senior leadership of James Reid and Nick Duncan.

“They’re huge,” Rice said. “It means so much to me to have our seniors go out the right way, playing their best basketball, leaving a legacy of how hard they play, the things that they accomplish. And that’s where we are right now.”

With as many as three true freshmen on the court at any given time, Boise State has endured rough patches. When those occur, Reid and Duncan pick up the pieces.

“It’s (about) getting better and focusing on ourselves and moving onto the next thing,” Duncan said.

The key to Boise State’s resiliency has been the ability to maintain a sense of urgency at all times. After losses, that urgency level rises by design.

“As leaders, you can show by example the sense of urgency that has to be in place after a loss. As the seniors and the leaders, you have to pass this on to the young guys who have only played high school and AAU basketball,” Reid said. “This is the real deal, and that losses aren’t alright.”

Reid said much of that urgency comes through in the way the team practices after defeats. There is a sharper edge in the days following losses.

“We understand the importance of practice,” Reid said. “But there’s a natural slippage when you win four, six in a row and then you take one or two on the nose. Now, we really have to turn it around and have great ones today.”

The other benefit of senior leadership is in helping younger players regain composure.

“They’re five months into college basketball with plenty of good game experience,” Reid said. “(But) there’s times in practices and in between games and at games where you have to maybe give a guy a line or two to help him calm down, or pick him up or tell him, ‘Good job.’”

Week 7 Treasure Valley top high school football plays

Cougar's reflection caught on camera as it peers into windows of Washington school

Boise State men's basketball coach Leon Rice talks to the media during the first week of practice, addressing senior Chandler Hutchison's progress, what he likes about this squad, and who is going to start.